Self-righting toy



March 7, 1950 L. A. GOODMAN SELF-RIGHTING TOY Filed Dec Patented Mar. 7, 1950 SELF-RIGHTING TOY Louis A. Goodman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to L. A. Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a limited partnership Application December 15, 1945, Serial No. 635,217

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and is more particularly concerned with the type of toy formed with a rounded base portion to permit .a rolling or rocking movement and embodying weight means for automatically returning the top to an upright position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy of this type embodying improved means for securing a weight in position to prevent disengagement and displacement of the weight from its proper position on the toy. In the use of toys of this type by young children, the toys are apt to become broken due to rough usage and therefore it is essential that the weight be securely attached to the body of the toy toprevent the young child from swallowing same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a toy of this type which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which will not readily get out of order.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing a toy embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, corresponding to Fig. 3, ShOWiIlg a modified form of this invention in which a plurality of weights are secured to the toy in super-imposed relation.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of this invention, the toy is shown as comprising a substantially spherical body portion 6 which is preferably formed of two half sections 1 and 8 and provided with out-turned flanges 9 and I0, respectively, for abutting engagement. The abutting surface of the flanges 9 and H] may be cemented or otherwise secured together. A head portion I2 is also preferably in the form of a hollow sphere comprising two halves provided with out-turned flanges l3 for abutting sealed engagement. The head portion I2 may be secured in position upon the body portion 6 by cementing same thereto or by the use of a mechanical fastening means, such as aclip or rivet. The body portion 6 and head portion 12 are preferably formed from sheet Celluloid to provide a toy which may readily be cleaned and which may be formed in contrasting colors to provide an inexpensive structure and an attractive appearance. The features of the toy such as the eyes it, mouth I5 and body panel l6 are preferably formed of pieces of celluloid cemented in position upon the head portion l2 and body portion 6. A weight is preferably formed of heavy metal is secured against the inner side of the body section 8 by means of a rivet IS. The weight 18 is preferably stamped of sheet metal and having a contour which conforms to the inner contour of the body section 8 and provided with a centrally disposed aperture 2| to receive the shank of the rivet l9. The convex side of the weight is formed with a centrally disposed recess 22 which extends inwardly a distance substantially equal to the height of the rivet head 23 and it will be noted that the rivet head 23 is formed relatively large in diameter to insure adequate clamping engagement of the adjacent Celluloid mater al against the surface defining the recess 22. It will be noted that the weight 18 is secured in position on the body section 8 prior to cementing of the latter to the body section 1. After the weight is positioned on the body section 8 with the rivet in place, the inner end of the rivet is peened over to secure the weight in assembled relation,

After assembly of the weight upon the body section 8, a disc-shaped piece of Celluloid 24 is cemented or otherwise secured to the outer surface of the body sec ion 8 to cover the recess formed by the weight and the head 23 of the rivet. It will thus be seen that the disc 24 serves to enclose the rivet head 23 and forms a smoothly rounded contour for the bottom portion of the body section 8. The disc 24 also serves to reinforce the bottom portion 'of the body section 8 adjacent the counterweight.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of this invention in which a plurality of weights 26 are mounted in superimposed relation and secured in position to the inner side of the bottom section 8 by means of a rivet 21. This form of the invention is otherwise of similar construction to the form heretofore described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the manufacture of a toy of this type, it may be desirable to provide edible material, such as rock salt within the body portion 6 to impinge or strike against the side walls of the body portion 6 during oscillation of the toy to create a rattling sound.

It will be noted that a toy of the type shown and described may be inexpensively formed to provide a simple, sturdy and attractive toy for a, child, and that the several parts thereof are formed and constructed of suitable material to prevent displacement of parts thereof which might be swallowed by young children;

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit; and scope of the. claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rocking toy, a hollow spherical body formed of two half sections of sheet celluloid cemented together, a plurality of washer-shaped weights positioned within said body, one of said.

weights having its outer surface substantially conforming to the inner contour of said body and having a recess formed therein, a rivet extending inwardly through the wall of said body and through said weights for holding the latter against displacement, the head of said rivet and the adjacent, portion of said body being enclosed within the recess formed in one of said weights, and a disc. of sheet celluloid secured to the outer surface of said body to cover the head of said rivet and to reinforce that portion of the body adjacent thereto.

2. In a rocking toy, a hollow spherical body formed of two half sections of sheet celluloid cemented together, a washer-shaped weight positioned within said body, said weight having its outer surface substantially conforming to the inner contour of said body and having a recess formed therein, a rivet extending inwardly through the wall of said body and through said weight for holding the latter against displacement, the head of said rivet and the adjacent portion of said body being enclosed Within the recess formed in said weight, and a disc of sheet celluloid secured to the outer surface of said body to cover the head of said rivet and to reinforce that portion of the body adjacent thereto.

LOUIS A. GOODMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,287 Morse Apr. 17, 1917 1,394,669 Da Costa Oct. 25, 1921 2,167,686 Schmidt Aug. 1, 1939 

